Touch-controlled faucet assembly

ABSTRACT

The present application provides a touch-controlled faucet assembly, including: a faucet body defining a mounting portion; a conductive connector assembled in the mounting portion of the faucet body; and a shower comprising a curved tube made from conductive material set around the connector; wherein a conductive ring is set between the curved tube and the conductive connector for electrically connecting the curved tube to the conductive connector. In the touch-controlled faucet assembly of the present invention, the conductive ring defining a notch set between the curved tube and the conductive connector can resist against the curved tube due to desirable deformation ability thereof, so as to realize stable electrical connection of the curved tube and the conductive connector.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present application generally relates to water faucets and, more particularly, relates to a reliable touch-controlled faucet assembly.

Description of the Related Art

As ordinary household equipments in people's daily life, water faucets have been widely used in kitchens and bathrooms. Generally, water flow of a conventional water faucet is realized via manual operation of a faucet cartridge, which may lead to pollution of the water faucet due to a dirty hand.

In order to overcome the shortcoming of the conventional water faucet, touch-controlled faucets have been developed rapidly in recent years. The control of the water flow of a touch-controlled faucet can be realized via touch of the faucet after the handle of the faucet is opened, which can avoid pollution of the handle due to a dirty hand.

However, the conventional touch-controlled faucet at least has the following disadvantages.

Firstly, due to deterioration of the deformation ability of the curved tube and/or the conductive connector, after long term use, the electrical connection between the curved tube and the conductive connector becomes unstable, which may lead to unstable water flow of the touch-controlled faucet.

Secondly, there is no insulative component set between the faucet body and the mounting platform for mounting the touch-controlled faucet, during the use of the touch-controlled faucet, there may be a risk of electricity leakage, which may affect the safe use of the touch-controlled faucet.

In view of the foregoing, what is needed, therefore, is to provide a safe and reliable touch-controlled faucet assembly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One object of the present application is to provide a safe and reliable touch-controlled faucet assembly which can overcome the disadvantages in the conventional touch-controlled faucet.

According to one embodiment of the present application, a touch-controlled faucet assembly, including:

a faucet body defining a mounting portion;

a conductive connector made from electrically conductive material assembled in the mounting portion of the faucet body; and

a shower comprising a curved tube made from conductive material set around the conductive connector;

wherein a conductive ring is set between the curved tube and the conductive connector for electrically connecting the curved tube to the conductive connector.

According to one aspect of the present application, the conductive ring defines a notch.

According to one aspect of the present application, the conductive ring is made from stainless steel.

According to one aspect of the present application, the conductive connector defines two annular ribs, and the conductive ring is set between the two annular ribs and electrically connected to the curved tube and the conductive connector respectively.

According to one aspect of the present application, when the touch-controlled faucet assembly is assembled to a mounting platform, an electrically insulative plate is seated between the faucet body and the mounting platform.

According to one aspect of the present application, the electrically insulative plate is set around the faucet body.

According to one aspect of the present application, two insulative rings at upper and lower sides of the conductive ring are seated between the curved tube and the connector.

According to one aspect of the present application, each insulative ring defines a notch.

Compared with the prior art, the touch-controlled faucet assembly of the present application at least has the following advantages:

Firstly, the conductive ring defining a notch set between the curved tube and the conductive connector can resist against the curved tube due to desirable deformation ability thereof, so as to realize stable electrical connection of the curved tube and the conductive connector.

Secondly, when the faucet body of the touch-controlled faucet assembly is assembled to a mounting platform, an electrically insulative plate is seated between the faucet body and the mounting platform, which can realize electrical insulation of the faucet body and the mounting platform as well as ensure safe use of the touch-controlled faucet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a touch-controlled faucet assembly according to one embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 2 depicts an assembled view of a touch-controlled faucet assembly according to one embodiment of the present application, wherein for clarity, some components below the mounting platform are omitted;

FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary enlarged view of a circled portion A as shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary enlarged view of a circled portion B as shown in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Example embodiments of the present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, a touch-controlled faucet assembly according to one embodiment of the present application including:

a faucet body 10 defining a mounting portion;

a conductive connector 20 made from conductive material assembled in the mounting portion of the faucet body 10; and

a shower including a curved tube 30 made from conductive material set around the conductive connector 20;

wherein a conductive ring 40 is set between the curved tube 30 and the conductive connector 20 for electrically connecting the curved tube 30 to the conductive connector 20.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the conductive connector 20 made from conductive material has a hollow structure. The conductive connector 20 defines two annular ribs 200 apart from each other. The conductive ring 40 is seated between the two annular ribs 200.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the conductive ring 40 is made from conductive material. The conductive ring 40 defines a notch and has desirable deformation ability. When the conductive ring 40 is set between the curved tube 30 and the conductive connector 20, the conductive ring 40 can resist against the curved tube 30 due to its desirable deformation ability. After long term use, the conductive ring 40 can ensure stable electrical connection between the curved tube 30 and the conductive connector 20. According to a preferred embodiment of the present application, the conductive ring 40 is made from stainless steel.

Referring to FIG. 3, two insulative rings 50 at upper and lower sides of the conductive ring 40 are also seated between the curved tube 30 and the conductive connector 20. Each insulative ring 50 defines a notch.

In addition, referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, to improve the insulation performance, when the touch-controlled faucet assembly of the present application is assembled to a mounting platform, an electrically insulative plate 60 is set between the faucet body 10 and the mounting platform.

It should be noted that, the touch-controlled faucet assembly of the present application can be combined with other components of a water faucet, for instance a cold water inlet tube, a hot water inlet tube, a water mixing valve, and a main control box, so as to realize control of the water flow via touch. The foregoing components are all the same as those in the conventional structures of a touch-controlled faucet, and will not be detailed further in the present application.

Compared with the prior art, the touch-controlled faucet assembly of the present application at least has the following advantages:

Firstly, the conductive ring 40 defining a notch set between the curved tube 30 and the conductive connector 20 can resist against the curved tube 30 due to desirable deformation ability thereof, so as to realize stable electrical connection between the curved tube 30 and the conductive connector 20.

Secondly, when the faucet body 10 of the touch-controlled faucet assembly is assembled to a mounting platform, an electrically insulative plate 60 is seated between the faucet body 10 and the mounting platform, which can realize electrical insulation of the faucet body 10 and the mounting platform as well as ensure safe use of the touch-controlled faucet.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the inventions are not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, although the foregoing descriptions describe example embodiments, it should be appreciated that alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A touch-controlled faucet assembly, comprising: a faucet body defining a mounting portion; a conductive connector assembled in the mounting portion of the faucet body; and a shower comprising a curved tube made from conductive material set around the conductive connector; wherein a conductive ring is set between the curved tube and the conductive connector for electrically connecting the curved tube to the conductive connector.
 2. The touch-controlled faucet assembly of claim 1, wherein the conductive ring defines a notch.
 3. The touch-controlled faucet assembly of claim 1, wherein the conductive ring is made from stainless steel.
 4. The touch-controlled faucet assembly of claim 1, wherein the conductive connector defines two annular ribs and the conductive ring is set between the two annular ribs and electrically connected to the curved tube and the conductive connector respectively.
 5. The touch-controlled faucet assembly of claim 1, wherein when the touch-controlled faucet assembly is assembled to a mounting platform, an electrically insulative plate is seated between the faucet body and the mounting platform.
 6. The touch-controlled faucet assembly of claim 5, wherein the electrically insulative plate is set around the faucet body.
 7. The touch-controlled faucet assembly of claim 1, wherein two insulative rings at upper and lower sides of the conductive ring are seated between the curved tube and the conductive connector.
 8. The touch-controlled faucet assembly of claim 7, wherein each insulative ring defines a notch. 